Fleeting moment with dolphins wins Herald's summer holiday prize

Stacey Smith's fiance Troy Huston captured her paddle boarding among friendly dolphins at Henderson Beach, Northland.

Just as Troy Huston was about to finish surfing for the day at Henderson Bay in the Far North, half-a-dozen bottlenose dolphins appeared and caught a wave with him.

The friendly dolphins frolicked in the shallows with Mr Huston and his fiancee Stacey Smith, giving him the perfect opportunity to snap the winning picture in the Herald's summer photo contest.

About 40 other beachgoers joined the couple and the pod which had grown to around 30 dolphins.

"It was Stacey's first time swimming with dolphins and we were just stoked to have the photo published, so to win is incredible. It really tops off the whole experience," said 36-year-old Mr Huston.

Close to 7000 entries were received by the Herald's photographic desk after the competition began on Boxing Day.

"The winning photo encapsulates so much of what we love about the New Zealand summer - the weather, the beach and the way we interact with our stunning natural environment," said Herald deputy editor Chris Reed.

"The photographer's ability to capture a fleeting moment so sharply is worthy of praise alone, but to combine that with a high-quality composition is truly commendable. Thanks to everyone who entered."

Mr Huston receives a Canon EOS 70D camera valued at $1699, with a Canon MG5560 printer, 16GB SD card and a Canon backpack.

The couple have an upcoming honeymoon in Hawaii and Tahiti.

"The camera is just perfect, you can bet it will be the first thing packed," Mr Huston said.

Cordelle Feau in Whananaki with her friend.

Second prize - a Canon EOS 700D valued at $1049 - goes to Cordelle Feau, of Te Atatu Peninsula, for the photo of her and a friend in the surf at Whananaki.

Yvonne Srhoj with Bessie the dog.

Yvonne Srhoj of Ruakaka, took third place, winning a Canon Powershot valued at $699, for her shot of Bessie the dog snaffling a sausage at a barbecue.